By Peter Weis@PeterVicey

Confirmed: Schalke and Fiorentina finalize Nastasic transfer

FC Schalke 04 and AS Fiorentina confirmed the transfer of Matija Nastasic on Saturday. 

According to multiple sources, the Serie A club have re-acquired their former player on the cheap.
Matija Nastasic.
Matija Nastasic.Photo: Sandro Halank, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
A transfer stalled for well over a month finally went over the line early on Saturday morning. Matija Nastasic's sale to AS Fiorentina--a deal long assumed to have collapsed by many-- suddenly saw further movement yesterday.

According to German footballing magazine Kicker, AS Fiorentina were eventually able to talk 2. Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04 into a negligible transfer fee. The German magazine reports that die Knappen will receive only a €500,000 fee for a defender still valued at €5 million. Italian transfer expert Gianluca di Marzio and the Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung both confirm the low amount.

For the recently relegated Königsblauen, a below market-value fee was ultimately less important than getting the 28-year-old off the payroll. "Kicker" and other German media sources have repeatedly stated that Nastasic was due to earn €4.5 million plus bonuses over the course of the season.

"From Day One, we made it clear to Matija that the structure of his contract wasn't feasible in the second division," S04 sporting director Rouven Schröder noted in a statement, "We're pleased that we were able to find a solution satisfactory for both sides and wish Mati all the best personally and professionally in the future."



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